Page 63 of Raging Inferno

Dominic and Presley dressed quickly and drove to the church. Presley parked away from the activity in case Eddie Smith was watching. While Dominic jogged off to meet his crew, she headed toward Reggie Branch, who was talking to Charmaine’s husband, Ezekiel. Before she reached them, she detoured to a stone bench and took out her phone. Would it do any good to warn Jessie and Tamera again? Presley had tried once, but they hadn’t believed her. Now Charmaine was dead. She had to try again.

Maybe she shouldn’t release the information until the police okayed it, but right now, she didn’t care about protocol. She dialed Jessie’s number.

“Hello?”

“Jessie, it’s Presley Parrish.”

“Presley, s’good to hear ya.”

Damn it, she was drunk. “No, it isn’t, Jessie. Listen to me and focus. Charmaine died tonight.”

A loud gasp sounded, followed by glass shattering. “No. You’re joking.”

“I wouldn’t kid about something as serious as this.”

“W-was it another fire?”

“Yes. I don’t have the details yet. Jessie, I need you to be careful. It seems more likely that someone might target you and Tamera next.”

“Have you told her yet?”

“No. I called you first.”

“I’ll let her know.”

Presley’s brows raised. “You’re talking again?”

“Not really, but I want to be the one to tell her.”

“Okay. I’ll check in with you later.”

She disconnected and surveyed the area. Reggie was still with Charmaine’s husband. She jumped up and headed their way. Reggie glanced up from his notebook when she approached. “Hey, Presley.”

“Hi, Reggie.” She addressed Ezekiel. “I’m sorry for your loss, Mr. Dunn.”

He nodded but didn’t respond. He looked upset but not distraught. She turned back to Reggie. “Can you tell me what happened?”

Instead of Reggie answering, Ezekiel did. “Charmaine spends every evening in the candle station.”

“It’s the room in the church where people light candles in a symbolic act to show reverence to God by offering a representation of their devotion through the flame,” Reggie added.

Well, now, that was a highly detailed explanation. Presley raised her brows at Reggie. “Ah. I thought that was a Catholic thing.”

“I instituted it,” Ezekiel boasted. “Atonement of sins shouldn’t belong to one religion or another. Besides, I’ve always been fascinated by fire. What better way to show devotion to our Lord?”

Interesting. In her experience, someone enamored with fire played with it. Often.

“Charmaine has prayed there every night since we were married,” Ezekiel continued. “It was dark, and she tripped, crashing into the stand holding the votives. I’ll take comfort in knowing she left this earth as an angel and met our savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, quickly.”

Sheesh, he was just as garrulous as his wife. “I’m sorry for your children,” Presley told him.

He waved a hand. “They’ll be fine. Several women in the congregation are candidates to take her place. They will raise the kids in faith.”

Presley recoiled. He was talking as if it were a business transaction, not the death of the woman he had pledged to love forever. She suddenly felt very sorry for the kids and wondered what Charmaine had seen in the man.

“I’d appreciate you letting me know about her service. I’d like to attend.”

“There won’t be one,” Ezekiel stated.

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